1849 $5 Mormon Five Dollar AU53 NGC. K-2, R.5. Mormon miners
found success during the early California Gold Rush and returned
their wealth to Salt Lake City, where the bullion was privately
coined under the supervision of Brigham Young. Each of the four
denominations struck that year showed clasped hands on the obverse
(symbolizing friendship with non-Mormon neighbors) and a
three-pointed Phyrgian crown over an all-seeing eye of Jehovah on
the reverse. The obverse initials represent Great Salt Lake City
Pure Gold, but when the coins were declared debased, most were
melted. This example has caramel-gold centers and russet-tan
borders. Only lightly abraded with mildly granular surfaces. Listed
on page 393 of the 2014 Guide Book. (PCGS# 10262)